How to Choose Skateboard Bearings
Bearings are where the most money gets wasted in skateboarding. There is a $35 set that is right for the large majority of riders, and a lot of marketing designed to talk you past it.
Here is what actually differs, what does not, and why the number on the box is mostly irrelevant.
The short version
- Buy Bones Reds at around $35. That is the honest answer for most people.
- Ignore ABEC ratings. They measure the wrong thing for skateboarding.
- All bearings fit all wheels. 8mm bore, 22mm outside, 7mm wide. You need eight.
- What you pay more for: better steel, better shields, better lubricant. Not speed.
- Ceramics are for downhill and distance, not for a park session.
- What actually kills bearings: water, then grit. Not use.
- Cleaning beats replacing nine times out of ten.
What we cover
The ABEC myth · What more money buys · What to buy · Sizing and fitment · Shields, spacers and washers · Making them last · FAQ
Does ABEC rating actually matter?
Not really, and this is the single most useful thing on this page.
ABEC is an industrial standard measuring manufacturing tolerance, designed for bearings spinning at very high RPM under steady load in machinery. A higher ABEC number means tighter tolerances in that context.
Skateboarding is not that context. A skateboard bearing spins comparatively slowly and gets hit hard, repeatedly, from angles bearings were never designed for. What matters is impact resistance, steel quality, shield sealing and lubricant. ABEC measures none of those.
The clearest evidence: Bones do not use ABEC ratings at all, and make some of the most respected bearings in skateboarding. They rate their own on a skate-specific basis instead. Meanwhile you can buy ABEC 9 bearings for a few dollars that will be finished in a month.
Use the brand and the price as your guide, not the number.
What does more money actually buy?
Not top speed, which is the common assumption. Almost any decent bearing rolls fast enough that the limit is your pushing, not the hardware.
- Better steel. Higher grade races resist pitting and deformation from impact. This is the main difference and the reason good sets last years.
- Better shields. Removable rubber shields let you clean properly. Non-removable metal shields mean you cannot service them, so they are effectively disposable.
- Better lubricant. Higher quality oil stays where it should and does not gum up with dust.
- Consistency. Cheap sets often include one bearing that is noticeably worse than the others, which you feel as one slow wheel.
Above about $80 you are into diminishing returns for anything except downhill.
What should you buy?
| Set | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Spitfire Cheapshot | $21.99 | Budget, spare set, kids board |
| Bronson G2 | $29.99 | Step up, good shields |
| Bones Reds | $34.99 | The default. Right for most skaters |
| Bones Super Reds | $54.99 | Better steel, same design |
| Bronson G3 / Raw | $79.99 | Skating hard, several times a week |
| Bones Swiss | $99.99 and up | Long-term investment, serious use |
| Ceramic sets | $149.99 to $299.99 | Downhill and distance only |
If you take one thing: Bones Reds. They have been the correct answer for a long time and nothing has displaced them.
Do bearings come in different sizes?
No, and this catches people out because every other component is size-dependent. Every standard skateboard bearing is 8mm bore, 22mm outer diameter, 7mm wide. Any set fits any skateboard, cruiser or longboard wheel.
You need eight, two per wheel. Sets are sold in eights for exactly this reason.
The exception is some electric skateboards, which occasionally use a larger bore. Check before you order for one of those.
Shields, spacers and washers
Shields keep grit out. Rubber shields on one side can usually be prised off for cleaning, which is what makes a set serviceable. Metal shields generally cannot, so those sets are use-and-replace.
Spacers are small metal cylinders that sit between the two bearings inside the wheel. They keep the bearings aligned and let you tighten the axle nut fully without binding the wheel. Optional for street skating, genuinely useful for sliding on soft wheels, where they reduce vibration and make slides smoother.
Speed washers sit either side of the wheel, between the bearing and the truck hanger on the inside and the axle nut on the outside. They stop metal grinding on metal. There are eight, two per wheel, and losing them is a common cause of a wheel that will not spin properly.
How do you make bearings last?
Bearings rarely wear out from use. They die from water and grit.
- Stay out of puddles. Steel races rust, then pit, and a pitted bearing is finished. One wet ride dealt with properly is fine. A habit of riding in the wet is not.
- If you get caught out, dry the board, spin the wheels hard to throw water out, then pull the bearings and re-lubricate them the same day.
- Clean them every two to three months. Twenty minutes and it restores most of the performance people go out and buy back.
- Do not overtighten the axle nuts. This is the most common cause of slow wheels on an otherwise fine set.
The full method is in our maintenance guide.
Skateboard bearings FAQ
What are the best skateboard bearings for most people?
Bones Reds at around $35 are the answer for the large majority of skaters. They are faster and more durable than anything below them and close enough to sets costing three times as much that most riders would not pick the difference.
Does ABEC rating matter for skateboard bearings?
Not much. ABEC measures manufacturing tolerance for industrial bearings at high RPM, not durability under impact, which is what skateboarding actually demands. Bones do not use ABEC ratings at all and make some of the best bearings available.
Do all skateboard bearings fit all wheels?
Yes. Every standard skateboard bearing is 8mm bore, 22mm outer diameter and 7mm wide, so any set fits any skateboard or longboard wheel. You need eight, two per wheel. Only some electric boards use a different size.
Are ceramic skateboard bearings worth it?
For almost nobody. Ceramic balls do not rust and shed heat better, which matters for downhill and long-distance riding. At $150 to $300 a set, on a park board they are a considerable amount of money for a difference you will not feel.
What do bearing spacers and speed washers do?
Spacers sit between the two bearings inside the wheel and keep them aligned so you can tighten the axle nut fully without binding. Speed washers sit either side of the wheel and stop the bearing grinding against the truck hanger and nut.
How long do skateboard bearings last?
Years if you clean them and keep them dry, or a few months if you ride in the wet and never service them. Water is what kills bearings. Steel races rust and pit, and once that happens no amount of cleaning brings them back.
Before you buy a new set
Bring the board into 435A Bridge Road, Richmond. Slow wheels are usually overtightened axle nuts or dirty bearings, not dead ones, and we would rather tell you that than sell you something you do not need. Nobody on our floor works on commission.
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $90. Call 03 9421 2293.
Keep reading: Skateboard Maintenance Guide · How to Choose Skateboard Wheels · How to Choose Skateboard Trucks · Skateboard Problems and How to Fix Them · How Much Does a Skateboard Cost?
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